1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
(GAD)

2. A video clip of a
person suffering from
GAD

3. History of the disorder
• Anxiety was first recognized as a medical diagnostic entity in 1800s (Gavin 2).
• In the early 1900s, Sigmund Freud gave the term "anxiety neurosis" to anxiety
and described it as a mental disesase.
• GAD itself was identified as a diagnostic entity in 1980s with the publication of
the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Third Edition (Gavin 3).

4. What are some signs and symptoms of
General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) ?

5. Signs of GAD
People with GAD can’t seem to get rid of their concerns, even though they usually realize
that their anxiety is more intense than the situation warrants
They can’t relax, startle easily, and have difficulty concentrating. Often they have trouble
f
alling asleep or staying asleep.

6. Symptoms of the disorder
Trouble falling asleep or
staying asleep (NIMH 1).
Feeling out of breath (NIMH
1).
Difficulty concentrating (NIMH
1).

7. Symptoms of the disorder
Having to go to bathromm frequently
(NIMH 1).
F
atigues, headaches, muscle tension and
aches, sweating, nausea, difficulty
swallowing, trembling, hot flashes and
lightheadnesses (NIMH 1).

8. Prevalance of GAD

9. Prevalance of GAD
Gad affects 3.1% of American adults, ages 18 and older, in one given year (NIMH 1).
6
.8 million of American adults (NIMH 1)
T
he average age is 31 years old (NIMH 1).

10. Causes of GAD
Several parts of the brain
are involved in fear and
anxiety (NIMH 1).
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areas/genetics
Stress and environmental
factors play a role (NIMH 1).
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ttp://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/249347.php
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ent/
Runs in the family (NIMH 1)

11. Diagnosis of GAD
Diagnosed when a person worries excessively about a variety of everyday problems
for at least six months (NIMH1).
Doctor can see the patient many times before they find out that the patient has GAD (NIMH 1).
Talk to your doctor about your symptoms. He/she should do an exam to determine that it is not
a
physical problem causing the symptom (NIMH 1).

12. Treatments of GAD
Psychotherapy
Medication
• Cognitive behavior is very helpful
(NIMH 1).
• Anti‑anxiety and anti‑depressants
(NIMH 1).
• It teaches a person different ways of
thinking, behaving, and reacting to
situations that help him or her feel
less anxious and worried (NIMH 1).
• Anti‑anxiety are very powerful,
work right away and should not be
taken for long periods (NIMH 1).
• Anti‑depressants may take several
weeks to start working (NIMH 1).
• May cause side effects (NIMH 1).

13. Prognosis of GAD
N
eeds at least one year of treatment to prevent its repititevness (McPherson1).
I
f left untreated, the average length of time is 20 years (McPherson 1).

14. Prognosis of GAD
Chronic (McPherson 1)

15. Work cited page